Lens-focusing device.



No. 834,884. PATIENTBD NOV. 6, 1906.

\ F. A. BROWNELL.

'LENS POCUSIIG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1904.

` Inni rn: MORRIS Fermes an.. wAsHmmcN. D. c.

"UNrTED sTArEs PATENT OFFICE.

'j FRANK A. BROWNELL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO 4EASTMAN KODAKCOMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

LENSFOCUSING|v DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

Application filed August 3, 1904. Serial No. 219.286.

pictureeplane are relatively adjustable, this adjustment being usuallyobtained by moving one or the other of said parts forward or rearward onthe guides or Ways supporting it on the camera-bed.

My invention has for its object to apply to a camera a focusingmechanism embodying generally a stop adapted to vbe mounted on thecamera-bed and a plurality of shoulders arranged on the movable part andcoperating with said stop, whereby the latter may be set and the movablepart operated into engagement therewith to adjust the camera to obtainclear and well -.defined pictures of objects located at differentdistances from the camera. object to provide means to perr'nit arelative adjustmentY of the stop on the shoulders cooperating therewithin the respective parts on which they are mounted in the direction oftravel of the movable part, whereby the latter when in the set positionmay be fur-` ther adjusted to compensate for variations in the focallengths of different lenses.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side 'elevation of a camera provided witha focusing device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa top` plan view of the camera-bed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional viewthereof on the line 3X 3X of Fig. 2, shown with the lens-carriage in theoutward or adjusted position. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view onthe line 4 4X of Fig. 2 with the lens-carriage in adjusted position.Fig. 5 is a vhorizontal sectional view on the line 5X 5X of Fig. 4, andFig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the carriage or support for thelensmounting. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a camerabed,showing a focusingdevice embodying a My invention has for its further modification of theinvention. Fig. 8 is a sectional view thereof onl the line 8X 8X of Fig.7, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 9X 9X of Fig.7.

Similar reference characters in the several figures indicate similarparts.

In illustrating my invention I have shown it applied to a foldingpocket-camera embodying the casing or body 1, to which is hinged thefront portion, which is adapted vto be folded outwardly to form the bed2, vc arrying ways on which is mounted a carriage supporting the lensboard or mount 3. In the present illustration the ways on the bed 2 areformed by channels in the proximatev sides of vertically-extending edges4 of a plate 5, and the carriage operating on the `way-plate consists ofa hollow rectangular base 6, having at opposite sides outwardlyextendingedges, forming guides 7, engaging the channels therein. Extendingthrough the sides of the base 6 is a clamping member -in the form of abolt 8, having a head 9,

adapted to engage the outer edge of one of the sides 4 of thechannel-bar andto be normally moved into engagement therewith by meansof a coilspring 10, the tension of which may be adjusted by means of anut 15, arranged on the threaded portion of the bolt, as shownparticularly in Fig. 5. The extremity of the bolt projects a shortdistance beyond the side of the carriage, and engaging therewith is alever-arm 16, the hook end 17 of which extends through an aperture inthe carriage and forms a fulcrum, while the outer end of the lever iscup-shaped, as indicated at 18, to form a convenient grasp for theoperators finger. Rigidly attached to the opposite side of the carriageis a plate 19, forming afinger-piece corresponding'to the lever 16,which is also adapted-to be grasped by the operators fingers tofacilitate the adjustment of the carriage inwardly and outwardly on theways when the lever 16 is compressed to release it. This is a simplearrangement of the parts for clamping the lens-mount in any desiredposition of adjustment on the camerabed, and, if desired, the carriagemay be fur- IOO ther provided with a laterally-projecting inl The edgeof the index-finger 20 preferably rests in a notch provided in the head9, as shown in Fig. 1, to prevent its rotation during the adjustment ofthe nut 15.

As it is desirable to provide means for quickly adjusting the movablepart of the camera, 1 provide in addition to the clamping devices justdescribed interlocking stop mechanism arranged between the bed and themovable part of the camera, whereby said part may be moved outwardly andautomatically locked in adjusted position. In the present embodiment ofmy invention I have shown this mechanism as arranged between thecamera-bed and the carriage carrying the lens-mount, which may be setfor one or another of the various focusing positions of the lens, whichwill automatically arrest the latter in the desired position to focus itupon objects at a predetermined distance from. the camera. Between thecoperating parts of this mechanism l also provide a relative adjustmentto compensate for the difference in the focal length of differentlenses, adapting the parts for use upon different cameras and permittingeach focusing device to be adjusted to the peculiarities of theparticular lens with which it may be employed.

In the preferred form of my device I employ a plate 21, supported at itsedges in grooves formed in the inner faces of the sides of the carriage6 and provided with a plurality of apertures a, b, c, and d, extendingtransversely of the plate and stepped one in rear of another, as shownparticularly in Fig. 6. The forward edge of the plate is bent upwardslightly, as shown in Fig. 4, and in rear thereof is a small bracket 22,having a threaded aperture receiving a bolt 23, having a head 24, formedwith inner and outer flanges engaging on opposite sides of the frontwall of the carriage 6, whereby the bolt will be held relativelystationary thereon and when rotated in one direction or the other willcause the plate to be moved forwardly or rearwardly on the carriage. Atthe forward end of the bed is an adjustable member in the form of a bar25, guided in apertures formed in the sides 4 of the channel-bar 5 andmovable transversely of the path of the lens-carriage. On this bar 25 isan upwardly-extending stop 30, projecting above the path of the plate21, and which will be depressed by the forward edge of said plate,permitting the stop to pass beneath it and to engage one or another ofthe shoulders formed by the apertures a, l), c, and d.

The bar 25 is yieldingly projected upwardly by a leaf-spring 31, and atits outer end it is provided with a finger-piece 34, at the side ofwhich is a small projection 35, adapted to register with recesses a b cd, provided in the overhanging edge of a scaleplate 36, said notchesbeing arranged therein to correspond with the shoulders formed by theapertures in the plate 21, so that when the bar is moved laterally intoengagement with one of the recesses the stop 30 will register with thecorresponding aperture in the plate 21 when the lens-carriage is movedoutwardly relatively to the focusing-screen. The engagement anddisengagement of the bar 25 with the index-plate 36 is accomplished bythe vertical movement of said bar, which also carries the stop orprojection 3() into and out of engagement with the shoulders on thelenscarriage. For this reason l provide the spring 31 with recesses 32,corresponding to the recesses in the index or scale plate, with whichengages a small lug or projection 33 on the bar 25, so that when thelatter is moved downwardly against the tension of the spring todisengagc the stop 30 it will be held in its adjusted positionrelatively to the scale or index plate, and when released the projection35 thereon will engage the recess with which it previously registered.The lug 33 is made comparatively short, so that it maybe slipped fromone aperture or depression in the spring to another when the bar isdepressed, as will be understood.

The recesses or apertures formed on the scale-plate may be designated bynumerals, such as 10, 15, 50, and 100, to indicate the various focaldistances of the camera-lens and the shoulders formed by the aperturesc, l), c, and al on the plate 21, being positioned thereon relatively tothe notches of the index-plate, so that when they engage the stop 30 thecamera-lens will be located relatively to the focusing-screen orpicture-plane of the camera to make a clear and well-defined image ofobjects located distances from the camera corresponding to theindication with which the projection 35 on the bar 25 registers.

In. Figs. 7, 3, and 9 I have illustrated a modified construction inwhich the carriage (indicated by 37 and supporting the lens board ormount 38) is provided with overhanging grooved edges 39, adapted toreceive the edges of a way-plate 40, supported upon a filling-piece 41on the camera-bed. The carriage 37' is provided with a plurality ofapertures e, f, and g, and at its forward end is the outwardly-roundedand upwardly-extending tongue 42, attached at its upper end to thelens-mount and forming a convenient handle to be grasped by theoperators fingers when manipulating the latter. The stop coperating withthe shoulders formed by the apertures in the carriage consists of a pin43, having a grooved head, the sides of which guide the pin in itsmovement in an elongated aperture or slot 44, provided in theadjusting-bar 45. The latter is capable of being moved laterally of thecamera-bed, and the slot 44 formed therein extends in the direction ofthe movement of the lens-carriage. At one end of the slot is provided aslotted lip 46, adapt- IOC IIO

ed to receive the du lex-headed adjustingscrew 47, projecting tllirougha threaded aperture in the p in or stop 43, thus enabling the stop to bemoved forwardly or rearwardly on the camera-bed to enable the properadjustment of the camera-lens. In these figures the adjusting-bar isheld in place in a suitable recess beneath the way-plate 40, and itsouter end is guided beneath the overhanging end of the bracket 48 whenthe bar .is adjusted to its innermost position. A spring 49, similar tothe spring 3l, projects the bar upwardly, holding a lug or projection 50thereon in engagement with one of the several notches e,f, and g of theindex-plate 5l and also projecting the stop 43 in the path of thecarriage 37.

The devices embodying my invention, which I have shown and described,are simple and consist of few parts, which are cap able of being easilyap lied to various forms of cameras, althoug they are particularlyadapted for use upon folding or pocket caineras, as they facilitatetheir operation, for when an operator desires to photograph a particularobj ect he has simply to adjust the laterally-movable stop and draw thelenscarriage outwardly into engagement therewith, when it will be lockedagainst accidental displacement.

A further advantage of the device will be appreciated from the fact thatthe difficulty of focusing the lens by adjusting the movable part tocause the usual index-finger to register with a particular indication ona scale is obviv ated and that the lens may be set for a particulardistance an indefinite' number of times and the same result obtained ateach operation. Again, these parts being accurately adjusted by expertsduring the process of manufacture, careless as well as careful operatorswill attain equally good results.

While I have illustrated the focusing mechanism as employed inconjunction with the lens-carriage, it will be understood that thelatter might be the stationary part, when the focusing-screen orpicture-plane would then be the relatively adjustable portion, and thatan equivalent arrangement of the focusing mechanism might be employedfor adjustably securing it in the focal plane of the lens.

I claim as my invention-- 1. The combination with a camera, embodying abed and a relatively adjustable lens-support and a focusingscreensupported on the bed, of a plurality of stepped shoulders on theadjustable part, a stop on the bed and means for adjusting it intoalinement with one or another of said shoulders.

2. The combination with a camera, embodying a bed and a lens-support anda focusing-screen arranged on the bed, one of said parts being capableof adjustment relatively to the other of a plurality of shoulders on theadjustable part stepped relatively to each other and a stop adjustableinto alinement with the several steps to limit the movement of saidmovable part.

3. The combination with a camera, embodying a bed and a lens-support anda focusing-screen arranged on the bed, one of said parts being capableof adjustment relatively to the other, of a plurality of shoulders onthe adjustable part stepped relatively to each other and atransversely-adjustable stop on the bed adapted to coperate with saidshoulders.

4. The combination with a camera, embodying a bed and a lens-support anda focusing-screen arranged on the bed, one of said parts being capableof adjustment relatively to the other, of a plurality of shoulders onthe adjustable part located on the side proximate the bed, a stop on thelatter rnovable laterally thereof to coperate with one or another ofsaid shoulders and means for retractingthe stop out of engagement withthe coperating shoulder.

5. The combination with a camera, embodying a bed and a lens-support anda focusing-screenarranged on the bed, one of said parts being capable ofadjustmentrelativelyto the other, of a plurality of shoulderslocated onthe bottom of the adjustable part, a yielding stop on the bed adjustablelaterally into alinement with the different shoulders and means fordepressing it out of engagement therewith.

6. The combination with a camera, having a bed and a lens-supportmovably mounted thereon, of a plurality of shoulders on the supportarranged out of alinement with each other and located one in rear ofanother, a stop mounted on the bed and means for adjusting it tocoperate with the various shoulders.

7. The combination with a camera, ways thereon and a lens-support guided`on the ways, of a plurality of stepped shoulders on the support, a stoplocated in the path of the latter and means for adjusting it intoalinement with one or another of said shoulders.

8. The combination with a camera, ways thereon and a lens-support guidedon the ways, of a plurality of stepped shoulders on the support, a stoplocated in the path of the latter and means movable laterally of theways for positioning the stop in alinement with one or another of saidshoulders.

9. The combination with a camera, ways thereon and a lens-support guided'on the ways, of a plurality of shoulders extending transversely andrearwardly on the support, i an arm guided to move laterally on the waysand a stop carried thereby and adapted to cooperate with the variousshoulders.

10. The combination with a camera, ways thereon and a lens-supportguided on the ways, of a plurality of shoulders extending transverselyand rearwardly on the support,

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ing to the shoulders on the support with which said arm engages and astop on the latter cooperating 'with the shoulders.

11. The combination with a camera-bed, a lens-support movablelongitudinally thereon and stepped shoulders on the support, of an.

arm movable transversely on the bed, a stop thereon and means forcausing a relative adjustment between the shoulders and stop in thedirection of movement of the lens-suport.

p 12. The combination with a camera-bed, ways thereon and a lens-supportguided on the ways and provided with stepped shoulders in its lowerside, of an arm supported in the ways and movable transversely thereof,a stop on the arm and a spring for moving it into engagement with saidshoulders.

18. The combination with a camera-bed, ways'thereon and a lens-supportguided on the ways and provided with stepped shoulders in its lowerside, of an arm supported in the ways and movable vertically andtransversely thereof, and a stop on the arm, an index-plate on the bedcoperating with the arm to locate said stop in alinement with thevarious shoulders and a spring for holding the stop in yieldingengagement with said shoulders and the arm in engagement with theindex-plate.

14. The combination with a camera-bed, a lens-support movablelongitudinally thereon and a plate having shoulders mounted on thelens-support, of a stop adapted to be moved into alinement with one oranother of said shoulders and to coperate therewith and means forcausing a relative movement between the plate and stop in a longitudinaldirection on the bed to vary the arrested position of the lens-supportthereon.

15. The combination with a camera-bed, a lens-support movablelongitudinally thereon and "a shoulder on the support, of a stop movableinto and out of engagement with the shoulder to limit the outwardmovement of the support, and means for adjusting one of said engagingparts in a lateral direction relatively to the other to vary thearrested position of the lens-support on the bed.

16. The combination with a camera-bed, a lens-support movablelongitudinally thereon and a platehaving shoulders and means foradjusting the plate forwardly and rearwardly on thelens-supportrelatively to the direction of its movement on the bed, of astop adapted to coperate with the shoulders on the plate.

17. The combination with a camera-bed, having ways thereon, a carriageengaging the ways and a lens-support on the carriage, of a plate, .means.for .adjusting it relatively forwardly or rearwardly on thelens-carriage,

a shoulder on the plate and a relatively stationary stop located on thebed and coperating with the shoulder.

18. The combination with a 'camera -bed having ways thereon and acarriage having depending side portions engaging the ways and providedwith grooves, of a plate supported in the grooves and provided with ashoulder, a screw for adjusting the plate relatively on the carriage anda stop on the bed adapted to engage the shoulder on the plate.

19. In a focusing device, the combination with a camera-bed having waysthereon, a carriage guided on the ways and a lenssupport on thecarriage, of a plurality of shoulders on the latter, a stop cooperatingtherewith and a bar for adjusting it having a projection thereon, anindex-plate provided with recesses adapted to receive the projection anda spring yieldingly holding said parts in engagement.

20. In a focusing device, the combination with a camera-bed having waysthereon, a carriage guided on the ways and a lensmount supported on thecarriage, of a plurality of shoulders on the latter, a stopcoperatingtherewith and a bar for adjusting it having a lug thereon, a springhaving recesses therein cooperating with the lug and operating toyieldingly hold the arm to permit the stop thereon to be disengaged fromthe carriage.

21. In a focusing device, the combination with a camera-bed, having waysthereon, a carriage guided on the ways and a lens-support on thecarriage, of a plurality of shoulders on the latter, a stop cooperatingtherewith and a bar for adjusting it having a lug and a projectionthereon, an index-plate having notches coperating with the projection, aspring yieldingly holding said parts in engagement and provided withrecesses cooperating with the lug to position thebar when it is moved todisengage the projection from the index-plate.

22. The combination with a camera-casing having a focusing-screen and alens-support, said parts being capable of a relative movement toward andfrom each other, of a member having a plurality of stepped shouldersmounted on one of the parts and a relatively stationary stop on theother part adapted to coperate with said shoulders.

23. In a focusing device for cameras, the combination with an adjustablelens-carriage, of an abutment movable laterally of the direction ofmovement of the carriage and cooperating with the latter to arrest itwith the lens in focal position.

FRANK A. BROVVNELL.

Witnesses:

Gr. /VILLARD R101-I, RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH.

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